Nearly 150 Dogs Saved From the Dog Meat Trade in South Korea

Get ready for some happy news: 149 dogs who were destined to be turned into food have been successfully rescued and will now be starting their new lives in peace.

These dogs, who were rescued by a team from Humane Society International (HSI), are among millions who are raised and killed for their meat in South Korea. According to HSI, more than one million dogs are killed and eaten during Bok Nal days – the three hottest days of the summer – mainly as a soup that’s mistakenly believed to improve stamina and virility.

Fortunately, their fate changed when the farmer who was raising them turned to HSI for help. The organization has been working in partnership with those in the industry who express interest in getting out to help them close their farms and transition into other lines of work.

This latest rescue marks the ninth dog meat farm that HSI has permanently closed since 2014, which has resulted in saving the lives of nearly 1,000 dogs who would have otherwise been brutally slaughtered.

The dogs from this farm will now be free from the cages and chains that confined them, and are headed to HSUS Emergency Placement Partner shelters in the U.S. located in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where they’ll be prepared to be adopted into homes where they’ll become members of a family.

The first few have already arrived, and the rest will be on their way in the coming weeks. A group of 15 puppies who were too young to fly are being fostered with their moms until they’re ready to make the trip.

“With every dog meat farm we close, we are not only saving the lives of these poor, terrified dogs caught up in this cruel trade, but we are also presenting a successful blueprint for change that we hope the government will follow. Eating dog is a dying practice in Korea, especially among young people. However, the Bok Nal days of summer still lead many to eat dog meat soup in the mistaken belief that it will invigorate the blood in the sluggish heat. Our campaign shows them the disgusting conditions in which the dogs are forced in live in their own feces, and their pitiful suffering, and it is changing hearts and minds,” said Nara Kim, HSI’s South Korea dog meat campaigner.

While millions of dogs are still at risk, attitudes among the public are changing for the better, particularly among younger generations who are eschewing dog meat.

“Some people say that dog eating is Korean culture, but you won’t find many young people who feel it’s a cultural habit we want to hold on to. It’s intellectually lazy to use culture as an excuse for cruelty because all cultures evolve over time and we often shed practices of the past. We are hopeful that things will change, and that the new Korean president will advance a new culture of compassion to animals. I am so happy that for these dogs the dog meat trade is over, but we have to fight on for the millions who are still suffering,” added Kim.

HSI is continuing to urge the government to act to end the trade ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics, which will be hosted in South Korea, and will be heavily campaigning this summer to raise more awareness about the issue locally.

I think, as I’m sure you do, that culture has nothing to do with this. Let’s face it, if one goes back far enough one can find many examples of ‘cultural’ behaviours that, today, would be criminal in both the eyes of the law and of society.

Yes but… this is an Asian country. Does Korea and some of the other countries have a law banning the sale of dog meat? Do you know this as a fact.? I don’t have time to look it up. I would hope so but it just continues.

My eye surgery is for Thursday and I have much to finalize with my helper regarding the animals and last minute errands to run.

I am a vegan, so to me dog meat is as unacceptable as farm animal meat. The real problem with dog meat is that Asians not only believe (erroneously) that their consumption of dog meat is healthy (black dogs being especially beneficial to provide ‘heat,’ in their Chinese Medicine system), but they also believe that adrenaline soaked meat is the most flavoursome and healthy. To this end, torture for the kill is used…and the animal has the most horrendous pain and end of life experience imaginable. I won’t give you a detail of what that looks like…it is the most upsetting and sickening thing to see… You will have the research the various cruel methods…I cannot even write them! 😭😥😩

One step at a time. So wonderful to see so many saved.
And the Yulin festival this year was banned by the Chinese Government from having live dog butchery performed in front of an audience during the infamous festival. I have no doubt that dog meat was still served, but political pressure, international exposure and outrage have at least sent a message that this is cruelty on an unprecedented scale.

In Thailand, dog meat sale and consumption is illegal, but as the Chinese flock in droves for holidays (especially at Chinese New Year), I am well aware that the law is flouted. My husband witnessed the butchery of a dog in a holiday resort Island catering to Chinese guests and he immediately covers my eyes and steered me away. To confront such cruelty is to put your own life in danger. I have so much respect for the charities who fight this vile trade!